GB2350941A

GB2350941A - A connector with mechanical cable tension relief and an earth contact

Info

Publication number: GB2350941A
Application number: GB0010305A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Bernard Weingartner
Original assignee: Neutrik AG
Current assignee: Neutrik AG
Priority date: 1999-05-07
Filing date: 2000-04-27
Publication date: 2000-12-13
Anticipated expiration: 2020-04-27
Also published as: US6283804B1; DE19921132C1; HK1033212A1; GB0010305D0; GB2350941B

Abstract

A connector comprises a housing and a two part connector insert 1,13. A first part 1 has a front portion 2 with contact elements 3 and a rear channel-like portion 5. An electrically conductive insert 8 extends from the channel-like portion 5 into the front portion 2 and acts as a shield or earth contact. A second part of the connector insert is attachable to the channel-like portion 5 of the first part and has a pivot jaw 14 which acts as a tension relief means for the cable entering the connector. Figure 16 shows one embodiment of the conductive insert 8 which can have indentations or projections 9 on a semi-cylindrical shell 20.

Description

2350941 A cable connector for electrical connections The invention relates

to a cable connector for electrical connections having the features of the preamble

of Claim 1.

Cable connectors serve for the electrical and mechanical connection between a free movable cable and a matching connector which is stationary or also connected with a cable. In addition to providing satisfactory electrical contact and mechanical connection of the connectors to be mated, solid mechanical anchoring of the cable in the cable connector is of considerable importance.

This anchoring has to accommodate all the forces occurring between the connector housing and the cable, i.e. prevent any relative movement between the connector housing and is cable at the cable inlet. Above all, it is a matter of transmitting tensile stress introduced via the cable directly to the connector housing and of keeping them away from the mechanical connections of the central conducting wire of the cable and the contact elements of the connector, i.e. not subjecting the latter to mechanical load resulting from the aforementioned tensile stress. A further aim of such tension relief is the simple mounting of the connector on the cable and attaching the connector with the smallest possible number of parts. Generally, a cable connector comprises a housing, which for shielding purposes is preferably made of metal, a contact element carrier to be received by the housing and made of electrically insulating plastics material, and also a tension-relief device which accommodates tensile and bending forces acting on the cable, transfers them to the connector housing and keeps them away from the contact element insert. In the most common form of embodiment the contact elements are in the form of pins or conjugate spring socket connectors which are inserted into 2 the contact element carriers. The mechanical connection, which as a rule can be locked, of such a connector to the matching connector can be carried out in different ways, for example by a latch mechanism, a cap screw or else by the application of force with corresponding spring elements.

For the aforementioned tension relief, which advantageously should be effective for a given range of diameters, various structural means are provided, for example screw buckles, screw clamps, collets, form-locking cable anchors by meander-shaped arrangement of the cable and the like.

In this context, particularly in respect of the aforementioned tension relief, the aforesaid designs according DDR 83 391, DE 28 43 628 Al or GB 2 261 775 A are is to be mentioned, all of which illustrate and describe pivot jaws which form the tension relief by being applied against the cable introduced into the cable connector. In the design according to the above-mentioned DDR 83 391, a plurality of such pivot jaws are joined together via a deformable ring or annular arc and the structural element thus formed is freely disposed in the housing of the cable connector. During assembly, care must be taken to ensure that this component is inserted in the correct position so that it can serve its intended purpose. As a component loosely arranged in the housing, care also has to be take to ensure that this component is not lost during assembly. The toothed washer serving as tension relief according to DE 28 43 628 Al has an expensively designed shape which is accommodated in an equally expensively designed mounting by means of a spring web and a clamping pin. The known design according to GB 2 261 775 A discloses flap-like, curved jaws provided in pairs, which at one end are joined together by way of a laterally arranged web. This last-mentioned tension relief necessitates a relatively large construction width and, therefore, is of only limited application, in particular 3 only in conjunction with electrical appliances equipped with a cable connector, i.e. a plug, and not for cable connectors in which there are only very restricted space conditions.

DE 27 00 197 Al further discloses a two-part plug- andsocket connector, the first part of which has a portion accommodating contact elements and an adjoining shell-like portion. The second part can be connected with the shelllike portion of the first part so as to form the complete connector. The second part has clamping ribs for relieving the cable of tension.

An object and aim of the invention is to provide a cable connector for electrical connections which is easy to assemble and which comprises relatively few parts within a compact construction. The invention achieves this object

Claims

is with those features which are the content and subject-matter of the

characterising part of Claim 1.

By way of example, embodiments in accordance with the invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, without thereby restricting the invention to these illustrated examples of embodiments, wherein:

Figure 1 shows a side view of one part of an electrical connector insert; Figure
2 shows a plan view of the part shown in Figure 1; Figure
3 shows a longitudinal view of the part shown in Figure 1; Figure
4 shows a view in the viewing direction of arrow A in Figure 1; Figure
5 shows a second view in the viewing direction of arrow B in Figure 1; Figure
6 shows a side view of the other part of the connector insert; Figure
7 shows a view from below in the viewing direction of arrow C in Figure 6; 4 Figure 8 shows a longitudinal section along the line VIIIVIII in Figure 7; Figure 9 shows a plan view in the viewing direction of arrow D in Figure 6; Figure 10 shows a view in the viewing direction of arrow E in Figure 6; Figure 11 shows a second view, in the viewing direction of arrow F in Figure 6, of the second part of the connector insert; Figure 12 shows the two-part connector insert, viewed from the side, and Figure 13 in longitudinal section; Figure 14 shows a longitudinal section through a cable connector with the two-part connector insert; Figs. 15 and 16 show two embodiments of the electrically conductive insert for the earth contact; and Figure 17 shows a longitudinal section, corresponding to Figure 8, of a modified example of embodiment of the second part of the connector insert.

In all the drawings like parts or at least parts having the same function are designated with the same reference numerals.

The first part 1 of the two-part connector insert has a portion 2 with contact elements 3 which in this case, for example, are in the form of bushes. The rear side 4 of the portion 2 is adjoined by a channel-like portion 5, wherein in the transition zone a ramp-like extension 6 is provided which carries slotted terminal blades 7 which form the rear ends of the contact elements 3, on which the strands of the cable to be connected are to secured. These terminal blades 7 are disposed substantially at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the part 1. An insert 8 of electrically conductive material is disposed in the channel like portion 5. This electrically conductive insert 8 has to its longitudinal direction, wherein these indentations 9 or embossed portions have a wedge angle ascending from the plane of the insert 8 and the slope of the wedge angles succeeding one another in a longitudinal series is directed towards the portion 2 provided with the contact elements 3 (Figure 3). This insert also has a tongue-like extension 10 which protrudes into the portion 2 provided with the contact elements 3 and which forms the earth contact. Guide strips 11 are formed on the periphery and outside of the channel- like portion 5. The channel-like portion 5, together with the ramp-like extension 6, is considerably longer than the portion 2 provided with the contact elements 3. An insulating strip 12 is provided between the two terminal blades 7.

is The second part 13 of the two-part connector insert is of channel-like design over the majority of its length. It serves as a support for pivot jaws 14. The surface of these pivot jaws 14 co- operating with the cable (not shown) is arcuately rounded and is additionally toothed. The second part 13 of the connector insert has an axially parallel longitudinal opening 15, the width of which is slightly greater than the width of the pivot jaws 14 which are partly accommodated within this longitudinal opening 15. The pivot jaws 14 have an extension 16 which extends substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cable connector and which is accommodated within a slot-like opening 17 in the second part 13 of the connector insert, which opening corresponds to the cross-section of the extension 16. The extension 16 is directed towards the rear end of the connector insert. The extension of the pivot jaws 14 is also mounted slidably in the opening 17 accommodating it. The substantially channellike second part 13, with the pivot jaws 14 mounted thereon, has on that side facing the portion 2 provided with the contact elements 3 a shoulder 18 which fills the cross-section and which has a slot 19 which 6 extends transversely to the channel-like part 13 and into which the slotted terminal blades 7 project when the two parts 1 and 13 are fitted together as intended. To accommodate the insulating web 12 a recess is provided in the shoulder 18 which fills the cross-section.

The electrically conductive insert 8 is of substantially strip-like design in the first part 1 according to Figures 1 to 5 of the two-part connector insert. Figure 16 shows, in an oblique view, a further embodiment of such an insert 8. This insert 8 according to Figure 16 comprises two cylindrical shells 20 and 21, each forming a semi-cylinder, which are joined together and are pivotable relative to one another about their longitudinal axis so as to form a tube-like portion, wherein the is indentations 9 or embossed portions are formed in one shell 20 and a longitudinal opening 22 for the passage of the pivot jaws 14 is provided in the other shell 21. In the example of embodiment according to Figure 15 the second shell is in practice in two parts, wherein the two shell halves 23 are disposed symmetrically relative to the centre part with the indentations 9.

For assembly, the strands of the cable (not shown) to be connected are exposed, in which case the cable shield is turned back and the insulation can be left on the strand wires. The strands thus exposed but still insulated are placed on the wedge-like indentations of the terminal blades 7 (Figure 4). The second part 13 is then brought up to the first part 1 in a position inclined relative to the longitudinal axis thereof, and the rear undercut ends 24 of the part 13 are suspended from the rear end of the guide strips 11 of the channel-like portion 5 and, subsequently, this part is pivoted in a position axially parallel to the part 1. The shoulder 18 thus forces the strands to be connected into the slotted terminal blades 7 and, at the same time, the pivot jaws 14 act on the cable and presses it 7 same time, the pivot jaws 14 act on the cable and presses it against the insert 8. The earth connection is established via the exposed shield of the cable, which is applied against this insert 8. The two joined- together parts 1 and 13 now have to be inserted into the connector housing 25 and secured therein. Subsequently, a cable grommet 26 is fitted (Figure 14).

If the insert 8 is of strip-like design. as is described and illustrated in connection with Figures 1 to 5, it is applied on one side against the exposed cable shield of the adjoining cable. If particularly high demands on the shielding are imposed, as is the case in the transmission or relaying of high-frequency signals, advantageously an insert 8 is used, as shown in Figures 15 or 16. An insert 8 serving as earth contact almost entirely envelopes the exposed shield of the connected cable.

By means of the extension 16 the pivot jaws 14, which serve as tension relief, are able to slide to a small extent on the longitudinal axis of the cable connector. As a result of this sliding movement it is possible to adjust the contact force of the pivot jaws against the cable to be connected. In the embodiment illustrated by way of example, during assembly the part 13 is pivoted towards the part 1. It is possible and within the scope of the invention for the terminal ends of the contact elements 3 to be designed in conventional manner as soldering lugs which extend substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cable connector. In this case the part 13 can be pushed on to the part 1 in slide-like manner, in which case the guide strips 11 form the required interlocking member.

In a preferred, slightly simplified example of embodiment, the extension 16 of the pivot jaws 14 can also be formed in one piece and carried on the second part 13, as illustrated in Figure 17.
8 Legend to the Reference Numerals:

1 first part 16 extension 2 portion 17 opening 3 contact element 18 shoulder 4 rear side 19 slot channel-like portion 20 cylindrical shell 6 ramp-like extension 21 cylindrical shell 7 terminal blade 22 longitudinal opening 8 insert 23 shell half 9 indentation 24 undercut end tongue-like extension 25 connector housing 11 guide strip 26 cable grommet 12 insulating web 13 second part 14 pivot jaws longitudinal opening 9 CLAIMS:

1. A cable connector for electrical connections having a connector housing and at least one connector insert made of electrically insulating material and having contact elements, and also a tension-relief means gripping the cable to be connected to the contact elements, wherein the tension-relief means is formed by at least one set of pivot jaws, the surfaces of which co- operating with the cable are formed arcuately rounded and, optionally, toothed, and the pivot plane of the pivot jaws lies on or parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cable connector, characterised in that the connector insert is in at least two-part form, wherein the first part has a portion having at least parts of the contact elements and a channel-like portion adjoining is the rear side thereof, and the other second part of the connector insert can be connected with the channellike portion of the first part to form an essentially cylindrical connector insert, in that the channel- like portion adjoining the portion having the contact elements has an electrically conductive insert which extends at least over part of the length of the channel-like portion and which to form a shield or earth contact extends into the portion of the first part having the contact elements, and in that the pivot jaws are mounted on the second part.

2. A cable connector according to Claim 1, wherein the pivot jaws have an extension which extends substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cable connector and by way of which the pivot jaws are mounted on the second part.

3. A cable connector according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the second part carrying the pivot jaws is in the form of a slide which can be pushed on to the channel-like portion.

4. A cable connector according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the electrically conductive insert has indentations or embossed portions projecting transversely to its longitudinal direction, which projecting indentations or embossed portions have a wedge angle ascending from the plane of the insert, and the slope of the wedge angles succeeding one another in a longitudinal series is directed towards the portion provided with the contact elements.

5. A cable connector according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the insert has a tongue-like extension which protrudes into the portion provided with the contact elements and which forms the shield or earth contact for a matching connector.

6. A cable connector according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second part of the connector insert has an axially parallel longitudinal opening, the width of which is slightly greater than the width of the pivot jaws partly accommodated by this longitudinal opening.

7. A cable connector according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein slotted terminal blades are disposed on the rear side of the portion provided with the contact elements and are spaced apart from this portion, which terminal blades are substantially at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the cable connector and are in electrically conductive connection with the connector contacts.

11 8. A cable connector according to Claim 7, wherein the slotted terminal blades are disposed in a ramp-like extension on the rear side of the portion provided with the contact elements.
9. A cable connector according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the axial length of the second part amounts to approximately two thirds of the axial length of the first part.
10. A cable connector according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second part, optionally carrying the pivot jaws, can be suspended from the first part, preferably from the rear end thereof, and can be pivoted towards the channel-like portion.
11. A cable connector according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the electrically conductive insert comprises at least two cylindrical shells which are joined together and are pivotable relative to one another about their longitudinal axis so as to form a tube-like portion.
12. A cable connector according to Claim 11 when dependent on Claim 4, wherein the indentations or embossed portions are formed in one shell and a longitudinal opening for the passage of the pivot jaws is provided in the other shell.
13. A cable connector according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the substantially channel-like second part has on that side facing the portion provided with the contact elements a shoulder which fills the crosssection and which has at least one slot which extends transversely to the channel-like part and into which the slotted terminal blades project.

12
14. A cable connector according to Claim 2, or any one of Claims 3 to 13 when dependent on Claim 2, wherein the extension of the pivot jaws is accommodated by a slot-like opening corresponding to the cross-section of the extension.
15. A cable connector according to Claim 14, wherein the extension of the pivot jaws can slide into the opening accommodating it.
16. A cable connector according to Claim 15, wherein extension of the pivot jaws is directed towards the rear end of the connector insert.
17. A cable connector according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the pivot jaws are formed in one piece with the second part carrying the pivot jaws.
18. A cable connector according to Claim 14, wherein the width of the pivot jaws and the width of their extension are approximately of the same size.
19. A cable connector substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.